Russia confers PM Modi with highest civilian award for role in boosting ties between the two countries

NEW DELHI: In the middle of election season,

Russia

conferred its highest civilian award on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This was the seventh international award Modi has collected in the past few years.

In a statement announcing the award, the Russian government said, “Narendra Modi was decorated with the Order of St Andrew the Apostle - the highest state decoration of Russia - for exceptional services in promoting special and privileged strategic partnership between the Russian Federation and the Republic of India and friendly relations between the Russian and Indian peoples.”

Last week, Modi was conferred the Zayed Medal, the highest decoration by the UAE, in recognition for his “pivotal role” in strengthening relations. The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan tweeted "We have historical and comprehensive strategic ties with India, reinforced by the pivotal role of my dear friend, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who gave these relations a big boost. In appreciation of his efforts, the UAE President grants him the Zayed Medal.”

Modi travelled to Seoul in February to accept the prestigious Seoul Peace Prize, the 14th recipient of the award — the committee that chose him recognised Modi's contributions to the growth of the Indian and global economies, crediting 'Modinomics' for reducing social and economic disparity between the rich and the poor.

In September, Modi was awarded with the prestigious UN Champions of the Earth Award 2018, the highest environmental honour of the United Nations. Modi received the award on October 3, 2018 by UN secretary general Antonio Guterres.

Modi was the first Indian leader to visit Palestine in February 2018, where he was given the Grand Collar of the State of Palestine. In the past, the award was given to King

Salman of Saudi Arabia

, King Hamad of Bahrain, President Xi Jinping of China, among others.

In 2016, Modi was conferred the Amir Amanullah Khan award by the Afghan government, also the highest civilian honour by Afghanistan. He was conferred this award when he travelled to Herat to inaugurate the Salma Dam with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani. In the same year, Modi was also conferred the King Abdulaziz Sash by Saudi Arabia. Named after the founder of the modern Saudi Arabia state, King Abdulaziz Al Saud, the award was earlier given to former US President barack Obama, Britsih PM David Cameron, Russian President Putin and Japanese PM Shinzo Abe.